Stars Enjoy Their Night to Shine

Area's Top Players Put Their Skills on Display in Showcase Event

TOWSON, Md., June 27 -- Charlotte Davis saw her share of talented players as a member of St. Stephen's/St. Agnes's girls' lacrosse team the past four years. The Saints were ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation and won four straight Independent School League-AA titles. In addition, the opponents she faced came from various states and were of national caliber.

But when she came off the field after yesterday's All-America Lacrosse Classic at Towson University, she was incredibly impressed -- not to mention honored -- to be on the field with 43 of the best players in the nation.

"I've never played with such a fast and aggressive team before. I've never played on a team with this much experience and talent," said Davis, an All-Met midfielder who will attend Princeton in the fall and play lacrosse for the Tigers. "With all these all-stars playing, it's a privilege and an honor to compete with them."

Davis's South squad, made up of seniors from Maryland and Virginia schools, squandered a two-goal halftime lead and lost to the North team (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut), 12-9. Stephanie Anderson (Wading River, N.Y.) had three goals and an assist for the North and was named MVP.

In the boys' game, Georgetown Prep attackman Brian Casey, who will attend Georgetown, scored four goals to lead the South, made up of all-stars from eight states and the District, to a 19-16 victory over a North squad that featured players from five states. It marked the first time in the four-year history of the event that the South emerged victorious.

The game featured 10 ties and seven lead changes. Casey's third goal of the game with 11 minutes remaining broke a 13-13 tie, and the South never trailed again. Casey added his fourth goal late in the game to give his team a 17-15 advantage.

"When you're out on the field, it's not about coaching, it's all about heart," said St. Albans All-Met Roger Ferguson, who will play for Brown University next season. "We knew the South had never won and we wanted to win one for the south side."

Georgetown Prep goalie John Kemp made five saves in the first half for the South team, which also included Prep midfielder Pat Cotter.

In the girls' contest, Mount Hebron All-Met Ashley Bruns, bound for new Division I program Florida, scored a free position goal with 15 minutes left to give the South a 3-2 lead, and a goal from Penn State-bound Molly Fernandez (McDonogh) 21 seconds before halftime put the South up 5-3 at the break.

In the second half, Jen VanderMuelen (Liverpool, N.Y.) scored two goals in 1 minute 35 seconds to tie the game at 6 at the 18-minute mark, and the North scored five of the game's next six goals to secure the win.